Vacuum seal container cap



July 23, 1963 R. J. SIEBELT 3,09

VACUUM SEAL CONTAINER "CAP Filed Jan. 25, 1962 3 IN VENTOR.

liiqvnmvodimear BY WW M 3,fl98,575 Patented July 23, 1963 3,098,575VACUUM SEAL CONTAINER CAP Raymond J. Siebelt, 229 Velma Drive, Largo,Fla. Filed Jan. 25, 1962, Ser- No. 168,672 (llaims. (Cl. 215-37) Thisinvention relates to containers of the vacuum seal or fruit jar type,and in particular a container cap that is manually actuated to provide apartial vacuum above products in containers wherein each time a portionof a product is used from a container, such as a coffee container, thecontainer is again vacuum sealed as the cap or cover is returned toclose the container.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for withdrawing airand thereby producing a partial vacuum in containers where relativelysmall portions of products are removed from containers periodically.

In numerous instances relatively small quantities of products areremoved from containers at intervals and where the containers are vacuumsealed the seal is broken and products therein are subjected to the airwhich causes the products to deteriorate and lose the aroma inherenttherein.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a container cap orcover having a vacuum producing element therein wherein after removing aportion of a product from a container the cap may be replaced and thevacuum, at least partially restored.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means in acontainer cap or cover for increasing the open area above a product in acontainer upon which the cap or cover is used whereby at least a partialvacuum is obtained in the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a partialvacuum is restored in a vacuum sealed container by drawing a flexiblestern outwardly of the container.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means whereby ahouse-wife may restore at least a partial vacuum in a vacuum sealedcontainer after removing a portion of products from the container.

A further object is to provide means in a cover of a container forrestoring a partial vacuum in the container without modifying the designor size of the container.

A still further object is to provide a cap for a sealed containerwhereby a layman may restore at least a partial vacuum in the containerin which the cap may be reclaimed and used on another container.

And a still further object is to provide a vacuum producing element forcaps of containers in which the vacuum producing element may be usedindependent of the cap, and wherein the vacuum producing element is ofsimple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionembodies a bellows having an annular sealing flange extended from oneend, a relatively stifl head on the opposite end, and a corrugated sternextended from the head through the bellows, and a cap having a threadedannular flange threaded over the bellows and on a threaded neck of acontainer holding the sealing flange of the bellows against the end ofthe neck of the container, and having a keyhole slot therein throughwhich the stern of the bellows passes.

Other features :and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a sealed container with partbroken away, and showing the sealing elements in closed positions.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view showing a keyhole slot in the centerof the cap of the closure for receiving a flexible stem of the bellows.

FIGURE 3 is a view showing a cross section through the cap of theclosure.

FIGURE 4 is a view showing a longitudinal section through the bellowsunit of the closure.

FIGURE 5 is a view showing a modification wherein a closure is securedby vacuum force in the end of a container.

FIGURE 6 is a view showing another modification wherein the sealing unitis incorporated in a closure similar to a cork.

FIGURE 7 is a view showing a further modification wherein a vacuum sealis applied to a container such as a coffee can or the like.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts, the vacuum seal container cap of the presentinvention includes a cap it} having a threaded flange 11 extended fromone side, and a bellows 12 having an annular sealing flange 13 at oneend, a head 14 on the opposite end, and a corrugated stem 15 extendedfrom the head through the bellows and cap, and positioned to fold into arecess 16 in the end wall of the cap.

In use the expansible element or bellows extends through a neck 17 of ajar or other container 18 with the flange 13 positioned against the endsurface 19 of the neck and the flange 11 of the cap is threaded on theneck clamping the sealing flange 13 against the end of the neck of thecontainer. The stem 15, which is flexible, extends through a keyholeslot 2% in the end of the cap, and after the head 14!- is drawn by thestem against the inner surface of the end of the cap one of the annulargrooves 21 of the stem is moved into the narrow portion 22 of thekeyhole slot 20 whereby the bellows is locked in the collapsed position.The extended end of the stem is then bent or folded over and placed inthe recess 16 to facilitate packing and handling.

As the head 14- of the bellows is drawn upwardly by the stem to thecollapsed position against the inner surface of the cap the area betweenthe upper surface of a product in the container and the cap isincreased, whereby, at least a partial vacuum is obtained in thecontainer. The vacuum pulls the cap against the end of the container,and this pull is relieved to release the cap as the end of the stem isremoved from the recess 16' and moved into the large portion of thekeyhole slot.

By this means portions of products may be removed from vacuum packedcontainers at intervals and the vacuum restored by replacing the cap andcollapsing the bellows. Air pressure, which causes deterioration of someproducts, may, therefore, be at least partially removed from sealedcontainers.

In the design illustrated in FIGURE 5 a cap 24 is provided with athreaded flange 25 which is threaded in a flange 26 of a collar or ringhaving a threaded flange 2.7, and the flange 27 is threaded on :a neck28 of a container 29. A sealing washer 30 is positioned between theflange 26 and end of the neck 28. A bellows 31 is carried by the innerend of the flange 25 and as the cap 24 is threaded downwardly into thecontainer the lower end of the bellows is extended as indicated by thedotted lines 32. The bellows is retained against the inner end of thecap 24 by a pin 33, the lower end of which is secured in a head 34 ofthe bellows, and the upper end of which is provided with a knob 35,below which a washer 5 is positioned.

In the design shown in FIGURE 6 a bellows 36 is positioned in a plasticcase 37, which is in the form of a cork or plug, and the lower end ofthe bellows is provided with a relatively stiff disc 38 :from which aflexible corrugated stem 39 extends, and the stem extends through akeyhole slot, such as the slot 20 in FIGURE 2, in the upper end or" thecase. The slot is of sufficient size to permit the escape of airtherethrough. The bellows is shown in the free position in FIGURE 6 andwith the case positioned in a neck 41 of a bottle 43, or the like, thestem is drawn upwardly collapsing the bellows and creating a partialvacuum in the bottle. The vacuum draws the case into the bottle assuringa positive seal as long as the stem is secured in the keyhole slot, andupon release of the stem from the narrow portion of the slot the bellowsis relieved releasing the vacuum in the container.

The plug or closure shown in FIGURE 6 is inserted in the neck of abottle or other container and the disc 38 is drawn upwardly by the stem39 whereby partial vacuum is created in the upper end of the container,and the vacuum draws the case inwardly sealing the bottle, or the like.

In the design illustrated in FIGURE 7 a bellows 44, which is providedwith a trustro-conical-shaped upper end 45 is positioned in an opening46 of a cover 47 and the end 45 is positioned in a conical-shapedopening 48 in a ring 49 resting upon the upper surface'of the cover 47.

"The bellows 44 isprovided with a disc 50 of relatively stifl materialand a flexible stem 51 extends from the disc upwardly through thebellows.

The periphery of the cover 47 is provided with an annular flange 52 inwhich is a groove 53, and, as shown in FIGURE 7, the groove 53 ispositioned to receive the upper edge of a container such as acoffee'can, or the like.

Upon drawing the disc 50 upwardly by the stem 51 the bellows iscollapsed obtaining a partial vacuum in the container, and the force ofthe vacuum urges the rim or flange of the cover against the edge 54 ofthe wall 55 of the container.

Operation With the parts of the different designs assembled asillustrated and described a cover is provided for vacuum seal containerswhich permits parts of products of the containers to 'be used from timeto time, and after the portions of the products are removed thecontainers may be again sealed and at least a partial vacuum createdtherein.

In the different designs a bellows is collapsed by drawing a flexiblestem from the container, and with the stem locked in a slot in the coverof the container the sternv is bent over and placed in a recess in thecover, so that the stern does not interfere with packing and handlingthe container.

The covers of the containers are released by removing the stem from anarrow portion of a slot and thereby permitting the bellows to expand.

The closures may be provided in different designs and other means may beprovided for retaining the closing elements in sealed positions.

It will be understood that other modifications within the scope of theappended claims may be made in the design and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit ofthe invention,

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to "be new anddesired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vacuum seal container closure, the combination which comprises acap designed to be secured on the open end of a container, a bellowscarried by the cap and arranged to be positioned in a container on'whichthe cap is positioned, said cap having a keyhole slot therein, and aflexible corrugated stem extended from the bellows through the keyholeslot of the cap and designed to be retained in said keyhole slot withthe bellows collapsed.

2. Ina container seal, the combination which comprises a cap including adisc having a threaded flange extended fromthe periphery, said dischaving a keyhole slot therein, a bellows having a head of stiff materialin one end, and an annular sealing flange extended from the oppositeend, and a flexible corrugated stem extended from the head through thebellows and also through the keyhole slot of the disc of the cap.

3. A container seal as described in claim 2, wherein the cap is providedwith a recess which is positioned to receive the extended end of thestem with the bellows collapsed.

4. In a vacuum closure for a container, the combination which comprisesa hollow container having a neck,

. element providing a closure therein and the upper end having anopening therein, means mounting the bellows in said hollow body, aflexible stem mounted in the rigid element in the lower end of thebellows, extended upwardly through the bellows and also through theopening in the upper endthereof whereby drawing the stem upwardlycollapses the bellows enlarging an open area in a container between theupper surface of a product in the container and the upper end thereof,and, consequently, creatingat least a partial vacuum in the container.

5. A vacuum container closure comprising a cap including a disc havingan annular flange extended from one side, said disc having an openingtherethrough, an expansible element having an annular corrugated wallwith an annular flange extended from one end and having a head ofrelatively stilt material providing a closure .in the opposite end, anda flexible stern having a corrugated surface mounted in said head andextended through the opening of the disc providing means for retainingsaid expensible element in a collapsed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS673,236 Brewington Apr. 30, 1901 2,954,890 Del Valle Oct. 4, 19603,004,680 Moeller Oct. 17, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 909,523; Germany Mar.11, 1954

1. IN A VACUUM SEAL CONTAINER CLOSURE, THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES A CAP DESIGNED TO BE SECURED ON THE OPEN END OF A CONTAINER, A BELLOWS CARRIED BY THE CAP AND ARRANGED TO BE POSITIONED IN A CONTAINER ON WHICH THE CAP IS POSITIONED, SAID CAP HAVING A KEYHOLE SLOT THEREIN, AND A FLEXIBLE CORRUGATED STEM EXTENDED FROM THE BELLOWS THROUGH THE KEYHOLE SLOT OF THE CAP AND DESIGNED TO BE RETAINED IN SAID KEYHOLE SLOT WITH THE BELLOWS COLLAPSED. 